Refugee Paralympic Team gathers for training camp ahead of Paris 2024 Paralympics
Reims, France, with the backing of the French Ministry of Sport, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Paris 2024, is hosting a training camp for the Refugee Paralympic Team. During this camp, eight athletes and two guide runners received their official Games attire provided by Asics.
As they make final preparations for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, team members have been training at theCentre for Resources, Expertise and Sport Performance (CREPS) in Reims from August 12 to 21. This event, organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) alongside support from the French Ministry and Paris 2024, marks the first occasion where all athletes have gathered as a unified team.
Beyond rigorous training and access to sports medicine professionals at CREPS, the athletes have engaged in team-building activities, conducted interviews with international media, and been presented with their official Asics competition kits for the upcoming Games.
The IPC has formed a Refugee Paralympic Team for the third consecutive Games, and according to Nyasha Mharakurwa, a London 2012 Paralympian and the team's Chef de Mission, this group is the most prepared to date.
Mharakurwa expressed, "Bringing the team together for the first time at such a top-tier facility like CREPS in Reims has been incredible as we fine-tune our readiness for Paris 2024. The IPC's commitment to ensuring this is the best-prepared Refugee Paralympic Team has been evident through this inaugural training camp and the exceptional hospitality we've received."
Global Paralympic partner Airbnb, serving as the Official Partner for the Refugee Paralympic Team, has supported the IPC's efforts since Tokyo 2020 by providing individual assistance to each athlete, allowing them to concentrate on training and peak performance.
"I'm immensely proud of how quickly our athletes have bonded," Mharakurwa added. "Despite the diverse backgrounds, languages, and cultures, they've formed strong connections from day one, united by the shared purpose of being part of something greater at Paris 2024."
An image captures the ten athletes of the Refugee Paralympic Team on a blue track, featuring one athlete in a wheelchair at the center and another standing behind a mobility chair on the right.
This team, the largest Refugee Paralympic Team in history, comprises eight athletes and two guide runners competing across six different sports, with four members having prior Paralympic experience, including Para triathlete Ibrahim Al Hussein.
"We're more than just a team; we're a family," Al Hussein shared. "Our shared hardships have created deep bonds, making it feel like we've known each other our entire lives. We're all honored to represent not only ourselves but also the 120 million displaced individuals worldwide and over a billion people with disabilities."
A highlight of the training camp occurred on August 18 when local dignitaries and schoolchildren from Reims joined in a celebration of the team. The children presented each athlete with personal messages of support and heartfelt drawings, expressing how inspired they are by the athletes' stories and achievements.
Following the ceremony, team members joyfully posed for photos with the children, proudly wearing their Asics team uniforms for the first time. Asics, the official kit supplier for the Refugee Paralympic Team, designed the sportswear featuring the "Yagasuri" pattern symbolizing determination and strength, incorporating the IPC's colors of red, blue, and green. The uniforms are crafted from lightweight material with excellent moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties.
"It's a privilege to wear this uniform, and I can't wait to showcase it in Paris on the world's biggest stage," said wheelchair fencer Amelio Castro Grueso, who will be making his Paralympic debut. "Sport has transformed my life, and being part of this team heading to the Paralympics is a dream realized."
The Refugee Paralympic Team will lead the parade as the first group to enter the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games at Place de la Concorde on August 28.
On the first day of competition, Zakia Khudadadi, the 2023 European Taekwondo Champion in the 47kg category, will compete with hopes of securing the team's first-ever podium finish. "Winning a medal would be a dream come true and would provide immense inspiration and hope to millions worldwide, especially women and girls," said Khudadadi, who has been based in Paris since 2021. "It would demonstrate that no matter the challenges faced, perseverance pays off."